This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2023) |
Hellenic Army | |
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Ελληνικός Στρατός | |
Founded | 1821 (de facto) 1828 (official) |
Country | Greece |
Type | Land Forces |
Role | National Defence |
Size | In peacetime: 200,000 personnel[1][2] Wartime strength: 1,750,000+[3][2] |
Part of | Hellenic Armed Forces |
Formations | Formations of the Hellenic Army |
Patron | Saint George |
Motto(s) | Ἐλεύθερον τὸ Εὔψυχον "Freedom Stems from Valour" |
Colors | Blue-gray, Khaki & Olive |
Equipment | 1,365 MBTs 6,143 IFVs & APCs 4,840 Artillery pieces |
Website | Hellenic Army |
Commanders | |
Chief of the Army General Staff | Lt. Gen. Georgios Kostidis [4] |
Notable commanders | Lt. Gen. Theodoros Kolokotronis Lt. Gen. Panagiotis Danglis Lt. Gen. Leonidas Paraskevopoulos Fld. Marshal Constantine I Lt. Gen. Ioannis Metaxas Lt. Gen. Georgios Kondylis Lt. Gen. Nikolaos Plastiras Fld. Marshal Alexander Papagos Lt. Gen. Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos (see list of generals) |
Insignia | |
Identification marking | ΕΣ |
Vehicle marking | |
Regimental War Flag |
The Hellenic Army (Greek: Ελληνικός Στρατός, romanized: Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term Hellenic is the endogenous synonym for Greek. The Hellenic Army is the largest of the three branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces, also constituted by the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) and the Hellenic Navy (HN). The army is commanded by the chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff (HAGS), which in turn is under the command of Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS).
The motto of the Hellenic Army is [Ἐλεύθερον τὸ Εὔψυχον] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |3= (help) ('Freedom stems from valour'), from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War (2.43.4), a remembrance of the ancient warriors that defended Greek lands in old times. The Hellenic Army Emblem is the two-headed eagle with a Greek Cross escutcheon in the centre.
The Hellenic Army is also the main contributor to, and lead nation of, the Balkan Battle Group, a combined-arms rapid-response force under the EU Battlegroup structure.[5]